Fastener



Patented Sept. 19, 1933 FASTENER Robert Wittenberg, Berlin-Grunewald, Germany, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Colonial Bead Company Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application January 3, 1933. Serial No. 649,993

7 Claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in separable fasteners, and particularly fasteners of the type designed to be connected to strips and to interlock one with another or to be freed one from the other through the operation of a slider which automatically positions the fasteners by the locking or unlocking operation according to direction of slider movement, the whole assembly constituting a closure element for garments, pocketbooks and a great variety of other articles, as is well known commercially.

The present invention is particularly and primarily directed to the construction of the fastener element per se, with such construction providing, when the elements are associated in locking relation, the maximum flexibility between the elements, while at the same time avoiding disconnection in order that the fastener as a whole may be afforded that flexibility necessary and desirable in commercial use.

Many types of such fastener elements have been heretofore proposed, and in some of these types stress is laid upon relative exibility between interlocking elements incident to a swiveling action between interlocking elements, but in all such constructions so far as known exibility or play between the elements when connected has been so limited by the form of the elements per se that the range of flexibility is materially less than that requisite and desirable in closure fasteners of this type.

The primary object of the present invention, therefore, is the construction o f the fastener ele'- ment per se so that in its interlocking cooperation with the adjacent fastener element, there is that interlocking which will prevent separation of the elements under normal conditions, with the interlocking cooperation between the elements of such a relatively loose relation as to 40 permit and insure a comparatively free play between the interlocked elements relative to each other in substantially all directions, with the extenti of; this play permitting the highly desired and important universal flexibility between the 45 interlocked elements without permitting that flexibility or play to a degree which would tend to unlock or-separate the elements.

Thus, while the invention provides an unusual degree of play between interlocked elements and, therefore, an exceedingly great relative flexibility of 'the closure fastener as a whole, the specific formation of each fastener element per se, which formsthe basic feature of the present invention is such as to preclude any possibility of the casual unlocking of the interlocked elements in any relative positions of the elements permitted by the play or flexibility for which the elements are more particularly constructed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure l is an'enlarged side elevation showing the fastener elements of the present invention grouped to provide a closure fastener of a, general conventional type.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a 55 cooperating interlocked pair of fasteners.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of thesame.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

With particular reference to Figure 1, the individual fastener elements with which this invention is more particularly concerned `are indicated at 1 and are designed to be clamped onto strips 2 formed with beaded edges 3 for fastener clamping purposes, the strips being secured to the opening to be closed in such relation that the respective elements 1 on the strips 2 may interlock to form the closure, as indicated in Figure 1, or be moved relative to each other to unlock for opening the closure. These lockso ing and unlocking operations are ordinarily accomplished by a slider or like element movable longitudinally of the fastener elementsgand the general type of closure, fastener elements, slider and operative relation of the elements forlock- S5 ing and unlocking purposes are conventionally known commercially and need no further detailed description.

' The present invention is particularly concerned with the specific Astructure of the fastener elen ment 1 primarily with a view to insuring the maximum flexibility between the elements when interlocked, while at the same time preventing casual unlocking or separation incident to any flexibility permissible between connected elements. Thus, while the elements 1 are constructed with a view to rendering the closure as a whole extremely flexible for play or movement in any direction, each of the interlocking or fastener elements 1 must be so constructed that no matter what the degree of flexibility and no matter what the extent of movement of the closure as a whole incident to such flexibility may be, there is no possibility of disconnection or unlocking the engaged elements.

In the following description, the relative surfaces will be referred to in the position indicated in Figure 1 in the definitions upper and lower, for while it is to be understood that this relation of the fastener elements 1 is the pre- 110 ferred one in the formation of the closure as a whole, the elements may as readily be oppositely disposed, i.e. with the prongs 7 projecting down- `wardly instead of upwardly, and still present all desirable features of interlocking and unlocking and maximum exibility.

The fastening element per se includes a reduced neck portion* 5, a head 6 at one end thereof, upwardly projecting prongs '7, with such body at the end opposite the head formed with clamping arms 8, with the latter designed to receive and clamp about the beaded edge 3 of one of the strips 2, through which connection the fastener as .an element is secured in fixed relation to the strip. The upper surface of the neck 5 is on a plane below the corresponding surface of the clamping arms, and the surface of the body extending from the upper plane of the clamping arms to the upper plane of the neck is inclined downwardly and forwardly relative to the head 6, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The upper surface 10 of the neck 5 is on a flat plane parallel to the upper and lower surfaces of the clamping arms, with the side walls 11 of the neck 5 at substantially right angles to this plain upper surface 10 of the neck.

The neck depends below the lower surface of the clamping arms 8, as at 12, and the lower surface of the neck is substantially flat transverse the fastener element, and curved in a plane longitudinally of the fastener element, as at 14. The longitudinal curve of the lower surface 12 of the neck extends beyond the actual juncture of the neck with the clamping arms and merges into the lower surface of such clamping arms beyond their bead-engaging area, while the forward end of the lower surface 12 of the neck extends to the extreme forward edge of the head, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

The head 6 extends laterally in both directions from the forward end of the neck, the upper plane of the projections being a continuation of the upper surface 5 of the neck, while the lower surfaces-of these projections present curved surfaces beyond the substantially at surface of the neck. The terminal portions of the lateral extensions forming thehead have upstanding prongs 7, the relatively inner surfaces 15 of which are at right angles to the upper surface 10 of the neck 5, while the outer surfacesl of the prongs are rounded, as shown more clearly in Figure 2. The distance between the relatively inner surfaces 15 of the prongs 7 is greater than the similar dimension of the neck 5, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, and the upper Vsurfaces of the prongs are in substantial alignment with the upper surfaces of the clamping arms 8.

The fastener elements described are assembledV on the strips 2 in superimposed or spaced relation longitudinally of the strip, and the strips when applied to the respective sides of the opening to be closed are arranged so that the fasteners of one strip alternate transversely of the opening with the fasteners of the other strip. -This is clearly indicated in Figure 1, the details of which are materially exaggerated over the actual size and relation of the parts to facilitate the illustration. In interlocking the fasteners to complete the closure, it is noted that each fastener of one strip has an interlocking cooperation with two fasteners of the opposing strip, i. e. the neck of the particular fastener is engaged by the prongs of the opposing lower fastener, and the prongs of the particular fastener correspondingly engage the neck of the opposed upper fastener. That is to say, the prongs and neck of one fastener on a strip have interlocking cooperation with the neck and prongs of the staggered immediately adjacent fasteners of the opposing strip. Thus, the prong 7 of each fastener cooperates for interlocking en,- gagement with the neck of the corresponding fastener of the opposing strip.

As thus applied, the prongs 'l of one element straddle the neck 5 of the cooperating element, but as the space between the prongs '7 is greater than the similar dimension of the neck, there is by this arrangement a more or less free play between interconnected elements in a direction transverse the neck, i. e. one element may move laterally relative to the other element without in any way interfering with the holding connection between the prongs and neck of such elements. This play is incident to the space afforded between the neck throughout its vertical dimension and the prongs of the cooperating fastener, the space, in materially exaggerated form, being indicated at 16 in Figure 4.

By reason of the relative spacing of the fasteners on the respective strips, the fasteners when in parallelism, as assumed when in interlocked relation, are so disposed that the upper surface' 10 of the neck 5 of a particular fastener is spaced from the lower surface 14 of the neck of the companion fastener. ticularly in Figure 4, the plain upper face 10 of the neck 5 of the lower fastener element, which plain surface, of course, extends to and between the prongs of that element, underlies and is spaced from the lower substantially flat face of the neck 5 of the upper cooperating fastener, as clearly shown in Figure 4, and, of course, correspondingly spaced throughout from the longitudinally rounded plane 14 of this neck extension 12. Therefore, the flat upper face of one fastener underlies the longitudinally rounded face of the other fastener, and in the normal position of the fasteners in associated or locked relation, the respective surfaces so described are spaced one from the other. This spacing provides for relative vertical play of the fasteners without, however, possibility in this vertical play of separating the fasteners because the extent of the engaged portions of the prongs of one fastener above the lower plane of the neck of the companion fastener is of greater length than the distance between the lower surface of the neck of one fastener and the upper surface of the neck of the companion fastener. Therefore, vertical play of one fastener could not be permitted to an extent to disengage its prongs from the superimposed cooperating fastener before the neck of the particular fastener engaged the neck of .the next lowermost fastener.

Again, it is to be understood that the rounded surface 14 of each neck provides in cooperation with the plain or flat upper surfaces of the neck of the companion fastener a limited area of contact even when such contact occurs and affords a relative rocking movement longitudinal of one fastener element with respect to the other, even assuming that the respective surfaces of the necks of cooperating fasteners should contact.

Normally, therefore, there is provided a ma.- terial and appreciable spacing of the inner surfaces of the prongs of one fastener from the sides of the companion fastener and an appreciable spacing of the relatively upper and lower surfaces of the necks of companion fasteners so that virtually when in normal operative interlocked relation, each fastener is in effect wholly In the instance shown, par-- vided to vsuch an extent as will permit the unlocking of the cooperating fastener elements incidental to any freedom of movement or play necessary to flexibility, for it will be understood that aside from a relative angular movement well understood in the locking and unlocking of fasteners of this type, the fasteners of the present invention are inseparable. However, the angular movement incident to the operation of the conventional slide tilts the fasteners with respect to each other and thus forces the prongs 7 of one fastener element to move below the head of the cooperating fastener element for relatively lateral separatingA movement;

A further ,commercial advantage results from the relatively freedom of contact and relative spacing of the fasteners, in that less fasteners are required in a given length of the closure than would be necessary if the fastener elements are in actual contact when cooperatively interlocked. This is not only an advantage in saving fastener elements, but tends to more certainty inthe operation of the closure, for with the relative freedom of 'position between lcooperating fasteners, there is less liability of jamming, bending or breaking of parts where the device is in use.

Of course, it is to be understood that the illustration of the various details in the drawing is on a scale many times larger than the actual fastener in commercial use, as the latter is ordinarily constructed of relatively thin sheet metal and of such length that the projection of the fastener beyond the beaded edge of the strip to which it is connected is at the minimum necessary to permit the desired cooperation.

I claim:-

1. A closure made up of oppositely disposed, alternately positioned fastening elements, the proximate ends of the elements being of identical formation for interlocking cooperation, each element including a neck having a fiat upper surface and a lower surface substantially fiat transversely and rounded longitudinally of the element, said element also including prongs arranged at right angles to the plain upper surface of the neck, the prongs being spaced apart a distance greater than the transverse dimension of the neck, the alternately disposed elements -being spaced longitudinally of the closure to per- `from and offset relative to the plane of the clamping means, one surface of theneck being flat and the opposing surface of the neck being substantially flat transversely and curved longitudinally, a head at the end of the neck remote from the clamping means, and prongs upstanding Vfrom the head,at right angles to the plane surface of the neck, with the relatively inner surfaces of the prongs spaced apart a distance exceeding the similar dimension of the neck, the

neck throughout that portion having the longitu'dinally curved surface being extended beyond the similar plane of the clamping means.

3. A fastener including clamping arms having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces, a neck projecting out of the longitudinal plane of the clamping arms, with the respective upper and lower surfaces of the neck offset in the same direction from the similar surfaces of the clamping arms, one of the surfaces of the neck being substantially parallel to the plane of the surfaces of the clamping arms and the other surface of the neck being curved longitudinally and substantially fiat transversely, a head carried by the neck remote from the clamping arms and extended in both directions laterally of the neck, and prongs carried by the terminals ofthe head and arranged at substantially right angles tothe plane surface of the neck, the proximate surfaces of the prongs being fiat and spaced apart exceeding the similar dimension of the neck.

4. The combination in a fastener with a pair of strips carrying interlocking elements on adjacent edges, each'element comprising a body portion with an extended neck and head, the head extending laterally from the neck, prongs extending from the laterally extended portions of the head in a direction which is longitudinal of the strips, the upper surfaces of the prongs being substantially on a horizontal plane with the upper surface of the body portion, the upper surfaces of the neck and head being below the top surface of the body portion, the sides of the neck and the lower portion of the head extending below the horizontal plane of the bottom ofthe body portion, the bottom of the body portion being'flat transversally, the space between adjacentl faces of the prongs being greater than the width of the neck, the adjacent elements when interlocked being spaced and staggered and out of contact with each other to permit of flexing in all directions.

5. In combination, a fastener With a pair of strips carrying like interlocking elements, each element comprising a body portion with an ex# tended neck and head, the head extending laterally from the neck, prongs extending from the laterally'extended portions of the head in a direction which islongitudinal of the strips, the upper surface of the neck and head being substantially midway of the thickness of the body portion and the sides of the neck and head being fiat and extended below the bottom of thebody portion, the bottom of the extended portion being fiat transversely,l the prongs of adjacent elements when interlocked straddling the necks behind the heads and confined thereby but out of contact therewith and the bottoms of adjacent necksA being spaced from the surfaces of the next succeeding necks and heads to provide flexibility of the fastener in all directions.

6. The combination in a fastener with a pair of strips carrying interlocking elements onadjacent edges, each element comprising a body portion, a neck having lateral extensions to'form a head, prongs extending upwardly from the ex-l treme ends ofthe lateral extensions, the top 'surface of the neck being below the top surface of the body portion, the neck and head extending below the horizontal plane of the bottom of the body portion, the bottomof the extended neck being curved longitudinally, the body portions of the elements when assembled onthe strips-in staggered relation being wholly out of contact with each other, the prongs of adjacent elements straddling the necks of the next succeeding elements adjacent the extendedportons of the necks and the curved bottoms of the latter necks being 'wholly out of contact with the top surfaces of said adjacent necks to provide ilexibility in all directions.

7. The combination in a fastener with a, pair of strips carrying interlocking elements on adjacent edges, each element comprising a body portion with an extended neck and head, the head extending laterally from the neck, prongs ex- 

